Honda Civic Thermostat & Valve Removal

[teteng]

Good day good Tsikoteers!

Where else can I go to for help with my car but here, so here goes....

I'm using a Honda Civic LXI bought in 1997. In 2004 and 2005, the temperature gauge would just continue to rise until it almost reaches the redline, then goes back down to midlevel after some time. There seemed to be no set pattern when this would happen. Sometimes it does while I'm driving, sometimes days would pass when my drive seems hassle free.

In both instances, the problem was traced to a worn out thermostat and thermostat valve, and these parts were replaced then.

Last Friday, it happened again, and I'm almost sure this time that the thermostat and thermostat valve are worn out again.

When the problem was being diagnosed and fixed previously, some people suggested to me that I would be better off having those two parts removed from the engine altogether.

Has anybody had the same problem with their civic and were successful in removing these parts? Share naman po sila ng experience nila.

Sir Speedyfix and others, your thoughts are highly appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance!!!

[raine]

na check mo na ba rad fan baka mahina na ang takbo or barado na ang radiator mo pa overhaul mo na.

To test
if during high speed tumataas ang temp, and pag bumagal na takbo bumababa rin ang temp, try mo muna pa overhaul ang radiator mo and check thermostat.

if during low speed tumataas ang temp and sa high speed naman bumababa ang temperature, possible cause is rad fan.

wag kang magaalis ng parts like thermostat meron purpose ito kaya nilagay yan as per design, pinagaralan iyan bago ilagay sa kotse mo, wag kang maniniwala sa sabisabi. kailangan mong gawin ay ipaayos ang problema wag mag short cut.

[fcuk_macky]

bossing ask ko na din kc ganyan din ang problema ko sa esi 93 ko..pag mabilis tumataas yung temp nya..bago radiator ko and thermo swith, meron din ako aux fan na plague naka on...ano kaya posibleng sira neto? napa ayos ko ndin yung head gasket nya..help naman po...

[v6dreamer]

Good day good Tsikoteers!

Where else can I go to for help with my car but here, so here goes....

I'm using a Honda Civic LXI bought in 1997. In 2004 and 2005, the temperature gauge would just continue to rise until it almost reaches the redline, then goes back down to midlevel after some time. There seemed to be no set pattern when this would happen. Sometimes it does while I'm driving, sometimes days would pass when my drive seems hassle free.

In both instances, the problem was traced to a worn out thermostat and thermostat valve, and these parts were replaced then.

Last Friday, it happened again, and I'm almost sure this time that the thermostat and thermostat valve are worn out again.

When the problem was being diagnosed and fixed previously, some people suggested to me that I would be better off having those two parts removed from the engine altogether.

Has anybody had the same problem with their civic and were successful in removing these parts? Share naman po sila ng experience nila.

Sir Speedyfix and others, your thoughts are highly appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance!!!

The purpose of thermostat is to get the engine up to maintain the optimal temp., w/o it can cause you too much gas since your car is lot cooler. Do not remove this into the cooling system.
You should find out the temperature of the thermostat that was originally installed in the car (ask your honda parts dealer)and stick with that and make sure to replace the the old coolant w/ fresh 50/50 coolant.

[Dieseldude]

bossing ask ko na din kc ganyan din ang problema ko sa esi 93 ko..pag mabilis tumataas yung temp nya..bago radiator ko and thermo swith, meron din ako aux fan na plague naka on...ano kaya posibleng sira neto? napa ayos ko ndin yung head gasket nya..help naman po...

Baka naman normal ang temperature mo. Kung minsan, nagloloko ang temp sender and/or gauge, at nagbibigay ng false reading.

[Dieseldude]

Engine will overheat if thermostat is removed.

[fcuk_macky]

Baka naman normal ang temperature mo. Kung minsan, nagloloko ang temp sender and/or gauge, at nagbibigay ng false reading.

-very alarming kc halos naabot na sya sa redline..me kinalaman kaya yung water pump nun? kc yun nlng ang di ko napapa check sa lahat..

[v6dreamer]

Some tropical and desert countries mechanics sometimes remove the thermostat since the climate is already hot. The coolant flows better w/o constricting it and the hot climate helps bring the engine to peak temperature. Engine run efficiently when they are at thier proper operating temp., and again IT WILL NOT OVERHEAT the engine.

[moe]

^ i can attest to this based on my experience. my car didn't come with a thermostat (seven years ago, 2nd hand), never overheated. but yeah, the thermostat has a purpose, better to replace.

[userfriendly]

To check if you t-stat is ok:
1. Remove it and put it in a pail of water preferably with a thermometer. You can tie it to a wire or string or use tongs to pull it out.
2. Heat the water.
3. Watch the t-stat, it should open. Note the temp when it opens and check vs the rating marked on the t-stat body.
4. If it fails to open, replace it.

Note: Be sure the engine is cold before doing any work. If the t-stat is already open when you remove it, replace.

Macky,

Check if you have oil in your water/coolant.
Check you oil is it milky colored
Do you lose coolant?
Try replacing your radiator cap if you haven't done it yet, its cheap
Check your fan belts may be lose or damaged
do you hear boiling sounds
how does your exhaust smell
ask a mechanic to check your water pump

[mbeige]

I don't know kung uso ang fake thermostats but I know uso ang fake Honda parts so better make sure you get a good one, install it properly and don't forget to clean the area to get a good seal. But before you do that, test it first. Userfriendly wrote it down for you already.

*Macky the only way to verify yours is to swap in another temp gauge that you know is in good working order, and see what it does.

[dennis powell]

Engine will overheat if thermostat is removed.

sorry sir but i dont agree with you,thermostat is considered a resistance in cooling system.when the fluid temperature is high enough to weakend the thermo spring (resistance),it open up and release the high temp fluid and flows to radiator to cool down,then the cooler fluid flows back to the engine.how come the engine overheat when there is no resistance in that system.one of other things will be affected if you take the thermostat off,that would be gas effeciency.

[teteng]

Raine, thanks for being the first to reply. Driving speed has nothing to do with the overheating. It's quite unpredictable and intermittent when it happens. Today for example, I drove Makati - Marikina - Makati without a problem, whereas last Friday, I barely drove a block when it occurred (although the car was idling at the parking lot for some time), and the temperature dropped by itself while the car was idling by the roadside.

V6Dreamer, thanks. Ganun pala downside pag tinanggal, tataas gas consumption ko? Actually natataasan na nga ako sa consumption nya ngayon e. About the coolant.... I guess I'll have to check my user's manual and record kung gaano ba kadalas ito, but I'm sure more than 2 years na.

Userfriendly, that's the procedure we did at the shop when my thermostat was replaced for the second time, hindi lang kami particular sa temperature readings then. Thanks!

Thanks for the replies all, please keep them coming if there are still some areas not covered.

Nga pala, aside from increased fuel consumption, could there be any other ill effect if these parts are removed (parang nagka-appendicitis kotse ko kung nagkataon)?..... Not that I'm rich, baka lang pumuro ako sa lotto one of these days.... hehehe....

Salamat po ulit!!!

[yapoy86]

The engine cooling system has 2 electronic components 1: Temp Sending Unit and 2: Thermostat; Temp Sending unit main function is to indicate the temperature to your gauge, this is resistive type, when temperature increases, the resistance reading will be approaching to "closed" state, when cold it is in "open" state; Thermostat main function is to control your radiator fans, if you will observe, your radiator fans "start automatically", when the engine is cold, the fans will not start so that the engine will reach the optimal operating temp faster.. but when the engine reached temperature higher than the "optimal operating temp" the fans will automatically to cool down the system.. These parts are installed in the position that will not impede the circulation of engine coolant..

I advise to have your radiator checked for accumulation of dirt or blockage..

A good running engine will not overheat easily, I had a mazda 323 before that i forgot to refill the coolant reservoir and forget to check the radiator for 6months of everyday usage.. When one day I remembered to check it, the water from the coolant reservoir is already dried up and the water level inside the radiator is already half from the radiator cap... still my temp reading is still in normal and no overheating was experienced

[Dieseldude]

sorry sir but i dont agree with you,thermostat is considered a resistance in cooling system.when the fluid temperature is high enough to weakend the thermo spring (resistance),it open up and release the high temp fluid and flows to radiator to cool down,then the cooler fluid flows back to the engine.how come the engine overheat when there is no resistance in that system.one of other things will be affected if you take the thermostat off,that would be gas effeciency.

Hi Dennis,

The coolant thermostat is a two way valve, often mounted on the dischage port of the cylinder head. At cold condition, thermostat closes the flow path to the radiator, and diverts coolant to the suction side of the water pump through a short bypass pipe/hose. This rapidly brings the engine to operating temperature as water is not cooled by the radiator.

As the engine reaches operating temperature, thermostat closes the flow path to the water pump, and opens the flow path to the radiator.

If the thermostat is removed, we will have two flow paths open, one to the suction side of the water pump, and the other to the radiator. Most of the coolant will be pulled in by the water pump as this is the path of least resistance, and only a small volume of water will go to the radiator for proper cooling.

Engine will overheat.

Bye.

Dieseldude

[cocoy]

i agree with you sir dieseldude.. if you do take the termostat off. then make sure you close the bypass pipe or hose so that all the water will have to go through the radiator....

[userfriendly]

You may want to overhaul your radiator. May be blocked. If your coolant is over 2 years old, replace.

If you can spend 1800 pesos, try having Lavramon done on your radiator by Autotechnika. Its basically a deep clean and flush of both radiator and engine water jackets.

[teteng]

You may want to overhaul your radiator. May be blocked. If your coolant is over 2 years old, replace.

If you can spend 1800 pesos, try having Lavramon done on your radiator by Autotechnika. Its basically a deep clean and flush of both radiator and engine water jackets.

Sir,

You mean this, as well as the thermostat/valve replacement?

Thank you!

[userfriendly]

Sir,

You mean this, as well as the thermostat/valve replacement?

Thank you!

Well they are different animals. The t-stat is basically a valve that controls the coolant flow to the radiator. Replacing it wont help if you have a clogged radiator. I suggest you check it, but if its stuck closed, your temp will shoot up and wont go down. A simple way to check is hold your upper radiator hose. If its hot then coolant is flowing and your t-stat should be open. If its cold and your engine is hot, you found your problem.

A radiator overhaul is manual cleaning of the radiator. Its done to remove clogs, rust etc.. They remove both top and bottom covers and manually clean the radiator with a rod. Its cheap and effective. Only drawback is it cant clean any blockage inside the engine. Most of the time this is all you need.

Lavramon on the other hand is a chemical cleaning process. It does everything a radiator overhaul does. Albeit chemically instead of physically plus it also cleans the water jackets inside your engine. This is optional, just do it if you have money to burn.

The thing with overheat, is it can be a lot of small things. The cooling system is often neglected. Aside from those already mentioned, you still have your radiator cap, fans, H2O pump, fan belts, thermoswitch etc.. Best way is to have them all checked by a competent mechanic.

BTW, since you have had several overheats, ask the mechanic to check your head gasket.

[speedyfix]

removing isn't solving the problem. make sure 1st what is causing the temperature to rise and fix it. don't take shortcuts imo.